The Changeling

She was doing it again. My wife stood at the kitchen window, elbow deep in sink water, even though the frothy suds had long since flattened to a greasy film.

I cleared my throat so as not to startle her. Mary turned. “You’ve got to believe me,” she said.

Ever since the trip to Gwynedd she’d been this way. I nodded at the window where our daughter played outside. She was weaving a crown from a handful of daisies she’d plucked from the garden. “She’s fine, love. She’s the same as ever.”

Mary glared distrustfully at the girl and walked toward me. “I’ve been doing some research. They’re called the Twylwyth Teg. They take a human child, and in its place—”

“Darling, stop.”

I hardly knew what to say to her anymore. Our daughter was the same bright child she’d always been.

Sorry for the delayed post! This week and last week have been deadline-o-rama, what with one short story, two articles, and a submission package (for an anthology) due. Plus the daily 1000-word slog on my WIP. And in bouts of insomnia and you get one tired writer. By the time I got to Pegman, my creative juices ran dry.

Thanks Lish. It’s too funny that Josh and I came up with the same idea and even the same title! I did have the benefit of tweaking and rewriting mine a little after I read his! Thanks for reading, commenting, and for the great suggestion. This is such a lovely place you’ve uncovered.

When I saw that you and Josh had the same titles I thought perhaps that you were writing two sides of the same story. At any rate, I love what you did here. So much more story than meets the eye. Well written as always.

Shalom,

Rochelle

PS I strongly disagree that your sucks compared to Josh’s. Pfft! Both stand on their own merit. I understand about being late. Weekends are so busy and with Mother’s Day even busier. A belated Happy MD to you.

Happy belated Mother’s Day to you! Happy to see you. I’m honestly surprised Josh and I don’t come up with the same story idea more often, sharing the same house and having the same conversations. Thanks for reading and for your kind comments!

What a fantastic story. That tension between the characters is great, the dialogue so strong. Those details add so much – the greasy washing up water, the daisy chain which somehow conjures images of fairy rings … Maybe that child is a changeling after all. Smashing read